Duyen and his learning journey
Understanding the difficulty of students is the first and foremost question mark that I always want to resolve before sharing the knowledge. This is a crucial part which I believe all teachers need to set as the highest priority. Especially for working people when they take on a new language. This article I dedicate to Duyen a close friend of mine, and his successful story of conquering English. In fact, he is not fluent yet but I believe that he is on the right track to achieve his goal.
Why?
I have a son now, I love him and want to teach him English in the future, I want to be his role model
If my memory serves me well, that was a late fall evening, 2019. Duyen called and told me that he want to improve his English, then asked me for some advices. To be honest, I thought that was a joke, we were classmates in high school. Even then after almost 10-year in HCMC, we have been hanging out all the time. Never even a single word he asks me about English. With a doubtful mind, I asked Duyen the reason why all of the sudden he want to learn the language. He said “I want to learn English because I think it might helpful in my daily profession. More important I have a son now, I love him and want to teach him English in the future, I want to be his role model’’. That is a touching moment, I realized that having a child is completely life changing event to Duyen. Since the time there is a huge transformation inside him, more mature, better mindset, and be more responsible for his life. Having said that, still I wasn’t sure if he can commit with the learning. Because as an English teacher I know how difficult it is to learn the language for a working people like him. They have a huge amount of responsibilities from their job to their personal life. Duyen works on 12-hour shift in a dental laboratory as a leader, so the bread and butter takes a large portion of his day, after work he also need to spend some hours with his small family. So it is hard to find the spare time for study. But anyway, I shared to him all of the learning tips that I used in the past and what I teach my students on how to study by himself and how to maintain self-motivation along the journey.
How?
Time flies, a month later after the talk, Duyen called me again, surprisingly this time he could use some of the words, and barely understood my sentences. I was thrilled and felt good for him. He told me he joined in a class to find the environment (but shortly after that he dropped out of the class), since the time I often call him for speaking and sharing on our view point in English, the idea we have never thought about before.
Several months later, I could see a significant improvement on his proficiency. He shared to me that he found the learning method for himself and adhere to it. Long story short, his strategy was:
- Reading: Read and check out all of the vocabularies to build up his library. Also practice pronunciation.
- Watching: Short and easy English videos so he can familiar with native speaker’s accent and try to imitate them as well as re-paraphrase.
- Recording: Record and listen to his audio so he can correct himself.
Proudly to say after over a year of self-learning, so far he could be able to communicate fluently in most of a conventional conversations. Personally, with his proficiency now he surely can share his knowledge to his son. Professionally, as a Laboratory leader he often hosts technical meetings with foreign customers and suppliers, these meetings are a great opportunity for himself to apply the knowledge into his work life. Even better Duyen also expands his technical competence through conferences, the fascinating fact is that now he doesn’t need interpreters and confidently discuss with foreign experts by himself.
Key challenge for Duyen
Because they forget the word “PERSISTENCE”, so they end up giving up on their dream of speaking English.
It goes without saying that the most difficult challenge in study English is “PERSISTANCE”, you couldn’t be able to use a language in a day, a week or a month of study. You need to be persistent, it is a long run game, and 99% of people will drop out in the first phase of their journey, because as a beginner you have nothing, NO vocabulary, NO grammar structure, NO clear initial strategy, NO partner, etc. there are too many “NO” will day by day discourage you and shortly you will end up giving up. Duyen was not an exception, he has been facing numerous of challenges, but somehow his motivation combined with the right strategy have pushed himself overcome the toughest period. He has created a good foundation to later accelerate his proficiency. If you are a starter and want to take on an adventure with English, please don’t put too much of thoughts about your disadvantages let’s find out a solid reason and jump right into study, believe me you can find the best practice for yourself along the road. Later you can sync up your learning and entertaining. Eventually, you even don’t know why you can master the language. But again, many friends of mine at first they also have such a strong courage like Duyen, but most of them were lost it quickly and end up giving up on their dream of speaking English, because they forget the word “PERSISTENCE”.
Duyen found out the best method for himself
Focus on vocabulary and grammar
In fact, there are thousands of ways you can master your English, the best method is different for each of individuals, it is not an one-size-fits-all and totally depends on your personality. If you ask ten people about their learning method you might find out ten different answers. BUT if you take a deeper look at those successful ones, surely you will discover that whatever the method they are using, it must be based on the fundamental idea: YOU HAVE TO HONE YOUR VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR. So my friends never forget that, you can find out then modify any method which is suitable for you. But the one need to be focus on vocabulary and grammar.
Duyen is on the way to conquer his goal, he will be able to fluent in English if he continues what he is doing well and modifies the impropriate strategies. What I love about his story is that Duyen commit to himself that he will master the language, he took on the challenge with a vague strategy at first but a clear goal and a strong motivation. For him it is a great start, it is impossible to know what is waiting ahead of Duyen, so he doesn’t even bother to think about that, because reality is not always follow his plan. But at least he knows where is the finish line he want to put his feet on.
Duyen asked the right people
Everyone is willing to help you, even with the things they are not sure. Asking the right people is also a skill which you need to accumulate
Let’s think about this example, you are in Thu Duc district and want to spend an afternoon at 23/9 park to practice English with foreigners, you are new in town and have no idea about the way to get there, but the desire to learn urges you to go. First you ask your roommate, he generously shows a detail route. But on the way, you forget most of the turns, you just remember the direction to Saigon bridge. You ask a random biker, he tells you to go pass the bridge then turn back to district 2. You follow his instruction, but after the turn, it is weird that you are on the Ha Noi highway again. Suspect that you are on the wrong direction you decide to stop and ask a grab driver, because now you understand that you need to ask an expert, so they can give you the right advice. The sad fact you just discovered that everyone is willing to help you, even with the things they are not sure. Asking the right people is also a skill which you need to accumulate. With the direction from the grab driver you are on the right track again. Finally you get to the park and enjoy your day there.
Let’s me repeat myself again, Duyen achieved his first success because he had a solid motivation of learning. Moreover, he pre-determined for himself that it will be a tough period ahead, but it doesn’t matter at least he tries. It’s easier said than done but Duyen can do it so do you. Stop sitting there and watch others achieve their life changing goal, let’s make your own story because you can!
5 tips to stay focused on learning, working
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Thanks you so much about your advise, the guide was so clearly that help me overcome the begin’s perior much difficult.